Summary

The VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System is recruiting for a Therapeutic Radiologic Technologist. The Therapeutic Radiologic Technologist will function in Radiation Oncology Service.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• Education: Individuals must have successfully completed a program in therapeutic radiologic technology - evidenced by a certificate or an associate's or higher degree accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology or other accrediting bodies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the subsequent completion of a 12-month ED accrediting body-approved program in therapeutic radiologic technology
• Public Law 97-35 requires that persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 C.F.R
• Part 75
• They must have successfully completed an educational program meeting or exceeding the standards described in that regulation and is accredited by an organization recognized by the ED - and be radiation therapists certified by the ARRT in Radiation Therapy (T)
• Certification: All applicants must be certified in therapeutic radiologic technology by the ARRT in Radiation Therapy (ARRT (T))
• Failure to Obtain Certification: In all cases - TRTs must actively pursue meeting the requirements for certification starting from the date of their appointment
• Failure to become certified within one year from the date of appointment will result in removal from the GS-0648 TRT series and may result in termination of employment
• Loss of Certification: Once certified - a TRT who fails to maintain the required certification must be removed from the occupation - which may result in termination of employment
• English Language Proficiency: TRTs must be proficient in spoken and written English
• See 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria)
• Grade Determinations: GS-10: Experience: At least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position being filled
• Employees at the GS-10 level are fully functional as an Advanced TRT and are able to carry out their assigned tasks independently
• Experience at the GS-9 level includes: Skill in independently setting up the patient in preparation for basic and complex radiation treatments on a linear accelerator - as prescribed by the radiation oncologist
• Skill in independently performing machine warm-up procedures to interpret output levels compared with established thresholds adhering to the principles of radiation safety and all aspects of quality assurance
• Skill to independently perform patient chart reviews and effectively document records utilizing an electronic medical records system and the Record and Verify System or other similar treatment delivery systems Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Skill in independently performing machine warm up procedures and interpreting output levels compared with established thresholds adhering to the principles of radiation safety and all aspects of quality assurance
• Ability to independently perform patient chart reviews using an electronic medical record and the Record and Verify System or other similar treatment delivery systems
• Ability to independently perform all basic and complex CT simulations - including independently operating the CT equipment - following directives - designing custom immobilization for reproducible set-ups - obtaining optimal imaging - completing accurate data transfer for treatment planning and providing accurate and precise patient documentation
• Ability to utilize a Linac's On Board Imaging system to interpret complex images
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-0648-10
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-10
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service
• Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Duties

• The Therapeutic Radiologic Technologist is a registered Therapeutic Radiologic Technologist with major duties including: Demonstrate an understanding of human cross-sectional anatomy - physiology - pathology - pharmacology - and medical terminology Identify individual patient by the required identification methods set forth by hospital policy before simulation or radiation treatment is delivered Properly operate CT simulator with supervision - provides reproducible patient treatment position set-ups that can be accurately used for daily treatments on the Linear Accelerator Prepare contrast materials that are to be used for treatment simulations
• Ensures proper use or administration of the contrast materials to avoid the risk of patient mortality
• Improper use or administration of the contrast materials run the risk of patient mortality and - therefore - it is essential that a thorough understanding of the contrast material usage is possessed by those who prepare it Able to recognize abnormalities in lab work and notify the radiation oncologist/nurse of these abnormalities Work with other radiation therapists - the radiation oncologist - dosimetrist - and medical physicist as a member of the radiation therapy team
• Must assist and anticipate the needs of the radiation oncologists during the performance of the CT simulation
• Must be continuously alert to the patient's condition - position - placement of devices - placement of markers - etc
• The alertness of the individual is essential to prevent change in set-up position during the scan - recognize patient reactions - anticipate positioning technique factor difficulties with daily reproducibility - etc Be familiar with the principals of DRR and electronic transfer of information and images Confer with radiation oncologist to determine requirements/protocols for site specific simulations or those on protocol Determine technical factors - positioning - number - and thickness of scans - etc. - to produce and satisfy requirements of CT scanning Perform reconstructions of CT studies when requested - when part of a standard procedure - or when required for protocol review Properly identify patient images Indicate on patient's skin with tattoos and or markings necessarily needed to locate treatment area Properly operate a linear accelerator and perform simulation verification before treatment Obtain iso-center verification - treatment field verification of conformal blocking - with multi-leaf collimator Utilize electronic and/or radiation treatment chart for set-up instructions - field size - field shaping - SSD - field compensators and beam restrictions Employ any necessary accessory beam restriction devices - i.e. - bolus or collimator angles for fields to be treated Verify correct multi-leaf collimation and electronic dynamic wedges
• Delivers prescribed mode of treatment in accordance with prescribed radiation prescription and plan including conventional - 3-Dconformal - electron delivery IMRT treatment delivery - IGRT and respiratory gating procedures Promptly record in patient's electronic treatment chart any change in treatment - i.e. - change in patients SSD reading - change in field measurements - adjustments to position of treatment field - or patients' treatment status if not treated - to make corrections in the treatment calendar - calculations or prescription if needed Notify physics staff of equipment issues and follows instruction
• Reports all environmental and/or equipment issues to the Supervisory Radiation therapist
• Performs irregular hour emergency treatments on standby - in compliance with department policy - so that proper and effective emergency care can begiven to the patient Knowledgeable of the MU calc program for use with emergency patients Able to determine the appropriate timely sequence for patient studies and any special orders required Continually keep current with new developments in the field of radiation therapy and being able to utilize the new technologies available Provide the patients with accurate and compassionate treatment Coordinate scheduling of simulation - planning and treatment procedures Schedule treatments in a manner as to optimize accelerator times while maintaining flexibility for emergency cases
• This requires the ability to prioritize scheduled patients as well as the ability to accommodate the emergency patient who may need immediate simulation and treatment Obtain weekly machine check for rotational therapy and electronic dynamic wedge verification Instruct newly hired therapists on new techniques or equipment Provide feedback to supervisor on the technical aspects of work Analyze data collected for ongoing departmental quality and improvement process Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30 am - 4:00 pm Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 94181-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Available for highly qualified candidates Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized